The 2013 Cape Premier Yearling Sale (Book One), held in Cape Town on 24/25 January, produced a new South African record sale-average of R484k, up 18% on the previous high set at the same venue in 2011.
Some 200 yearlings grossed a shade under R100 million, justifying the organisers’ decision to reduce the numbers from last year’s catalogue (which grossed just over 100 million) from 376 to 220. The quality on offer did not suffer, as the number of yearlings sold for a million or more remained the same (19 in 2013, vs. 21 in 2012).
Top priced colt at the sale was a Silvano full brother to a Gr3 performer, their dam half sister to Champion sprint/miler All Will Be Well. The youngster, consigned by Maine Chance Farms, fell to a R3.2 million bid on behalf of owner Adriaan van Vuuren, who again proved to be unstoppable. A new owner, Van Vuuren entered the auction picture at Ready to Run sales last November, ran on during the December Ready to Run sale, and finished strongly at this Premier Sale. In those three months, Van Vuuren secured eight colts and five fillies, spending some R10 million. His trainer Mike Azzie will take it from here!
The top priced filly was knocked down to Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe, bidding on behalf of Lady Laidlaw, owner of recent Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Capetown Noir. The R2.7 million filly, by boomsire Trippi, was consigned by Klawervelei Stud. She’s the first foal of her dam who is a winning half sister by Fort Wood to champions Victory Moon and Kelly.
The sale average of R484k can be split into R529k for colts and R412k for fillies, all three averages being new records for South Africa. The median price followed suit, at R350k overall (up 16% on last year’s sale), R375k for colts (up 25%) and R300k for fillies (same as in 2012).
The Book Two sale is scheduled for 23 March 2012.
